Prove · Digital credentials
A trusted document you can verify in seconds.
A digital credential is a secure, verifiable digital proof about a person, organization, product or device. It is signed by the organization that issues it, so anyone relying on it can confirm who issued it and that nothing was changed.
It can stand in for a government-issued ID, a permit or licence, a professional qualification, proof of business registration, an audit or compliance result, or a product certification. Common international standards, such as the W3C Verifiable Credentials standard, help credentials work across systems.
What it changes
More secure
Forged or altered documents can be detected.
Only what is needed
Prove you are over 18 without handing over your whole driver’s licence.
Faster
No more manual review of documents sent by email.
More inclusive
Access services without travelling or waiting for office hours.
A credential is only as trustworthy as its implementation
Standards set the bar. Trust depends on what happens once a credential is in use:
- Does the technology do what it claims?
- Is the issuing process sound, and is each credential issued to the right party?
- Can a credential be suspended or revoked when it should be?
- Does it protect privacy and share only what is needed?
- Does it work with other systems and wallets?
That is why credentials need to be tested and assessed as they are implemented, not only when they are designed.
Who does what
- Standards bodies set the requirements.
- Accredited conformity assessment bodies certify against them.
- Independent assessments test how a solution performs in practice and help providers prepare for certification and recognition. This is where Digital Trust Canada works.
- Trust registries record which issuers are recognized. How registries work
Each role is distinct, and that independence is what makes the result credible.
Our approach
We assess digital credential solutions independently and technology-neutrally, using our test bench and an assessment methodology adapted to each solution and the framework it targets.
Why this matters for Canada: Digital Trust